Direction indicator



W. E. OSHEH Nov.7,1939.

DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed April 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 7, 1939. W. E. OSHEI l DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed April 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 srss lplliil Application April E6, i935, Serial No. 18,417 ln Great Britain august 2i, i934 ii Claims.

This invention relates to direction indicators more particularly for motor road vehicles of the type comprising pivotally mounted semaphore arms adapted normally to lie vertically and to be raised into the indicating position by actuating means.

ln such direction indicators, means are provided for locking or holding the arm against vibration when in the normal closed or non-indicating position, such holding means being automatically released bythe actuating means when operated :tor raising the arm to indicating posi.- tion.

` it is also desirable that the arm should be movable independently of the operation of the actuating means and for this purpose it has been proposed to provide means whereby the holding means are separately releasable whereby operation ci the indicating arno. may be eilected.

in ob-iect of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction of the and the holding rneans whereby the rais- .ing of the arin independently of the holding means or movement of the actuating means is facilitated and whereby straining and damage or distortion of the parts is avoided or impossible under normal usage.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of indicator arm or its actuating means whereby when the arm is raised a force (other than gravity) is set up tending to return the arm to its normal position whereby sticking of the arm in the raised position is overcome.

The invention consists in a vehicle direction indicator having locking means for holding the arin against vibration when in the normal position and adapted to be released by the actuating means for raising the arm, and wherein means are provided whereby the arrn may be raised `manually without releasing the locking means.

According to the invention, in vehicle direction indicators com rising arm actuating means, antivibrating or holding means are provided which are adapted to be released by the actuating means when actuated for raising the arm, and means are provided adapted to permit the swinging of the arrn while maintaining the locking or holding in their normal locking position.

According to a feature of the invention the semaphore is formed in two parts, hingedly connected together, one part being adapted to be engaged bythe locking means, and spring means are provided adapted to permit the swinging oi the other part while the first part is maintained ioclred.

During normal action by they actuating means the spring means maintain the parts in alignment or at their normal angle one to the other.

The parts oi the arm may hinge about the pivotal axis of the arm.

(C1. Nif-329) The invention also comprises a vehicle direct'on indicator having a pivoted semaphore arm f nrein 2 provided adapted during the movement of the arrn to its indicating position to up a force (other than gravity) tendtc return the arm to its normal position.

Further features of the invention will be hereinafter described.

Gn the accompanying drawingsvFigure l is a side View partly in section of a semaphore indicator according to the invention, the parts being shown in the normal closed position.

Figure 2 is an end View partly in section.

Figure 3 is a partial view showing the parts in the indicating position.

Figure i is a partial view showing the arm raised manually while maintaining the lock in position.

` Figure 5 is a partial view with the lock released and the arm raised manually beyond the normal indicating position.

Figure a detail view of a modied forni arm. l

'Figure 7 is a partial view showing a modified arrangement for setting up a returning force.

Figure S is a detail of another mode of setting up returning force. i

ln carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode by way oi example, the arm is iol-med in two parts hinged together, the lower part it forming the indicating arm proper. The arm part lil may be hollow for containing a lamp (not shown) and may also have suitable coloured sides. This part oi the armis formed mainly oi a light metal trame il enclosing the coloured sides ii? as usual and is mounted at its upper end upon a channelled portion it which carries a cross bar or pin lil located above and laterally of the pivotal anis of the arin and adapted to be engaged by the cross piece or actuator iii oi suitable actuating means herein depicted as comprising the armature iii of the electromagnet or solenoid il.

The upper part oi the two part arm in the nature oi a stirrup it, the legs iii of which lie outside the channelled portion i3 oi' the lower arm.

The stir' up it is pivctally mounted upon the channel it by a tube fill which passes through the side walls of the channel, spacing sleeves iii being provided to centralise the parts.

The parts are mounted upon a spindle 22 which passes through the tube and engages by reduced ends in apertures in the indicator case 23 or other mounting for the arm.

The two parts of the arm it and lil are maintained in their normal relation by means of a spring 2d located within the arm, one end being vconnected to a spindle or bar 25 carried by the stirrup while the other end is connected to the channel member i3 of the lower arm portion. Shoulders on the lower arm portion, against which the spindle 25 abuts, limit the normal relative position of the parts.

The locking plate or finger l carried by the armature oi the electro-magnet is adapted normally to lie in a position in which it engages the stirrup E3 whereby vibratory movements of the arrn when in the normal position are prevented.

The locking plate l5 is raised to this locking position by a sensitive spring El' carried by the armature and engaging the cross bar or pin iii carried by the lower arm portion.

The shape oi' the stirrup where engaged by the locking plate is preferably such that it also forms a stop limiting the upward movement of the plate when the sensitive spring comes into action. Thus, a portion of the cross piece of the stirrup is cut out and turned down to form an abutment engaged by the bar for preventing vibration whilst the adjacent part Bil of the cross piece forms the limit stop for the upward rise of the bar i5. The casing adjacent the rear edge of the bar l5 (when the latter is raised) may be provided with a guide surface against which the bar l5 abuts to prevent rocking of the armature and vibration of the arm.

In operation when the arm is in its normal non-indicating position (see Figure l) it is locked against vibration by the engagement of the locking plate l5 with the stirrup it, the lower portion i being rigidly held against the stirrup or upper arm by the spring Ell.

With the parts in the normal locked position, the lower arm portion lil may be raised by hand hinging relatively to the upper arm portion or stirrup which remains locked by the locking plate as shown in Figure 4i, such movement increasing the tension of the spring E@ so that the lower arm portion will be returned to normal position when released.

On energizing the electro-magnet l? the locking plate i5 is lowered against the tension of the light spring 2l to release the upper arm or stirrup and then acts upon the cross pin and raises the arm to the indicating position, the two parts I@ and l being maintained in their relative positions by the spring Eil located within the arm, which spring, it will be appreciated, Will be of considerable strength. This position is indicated in Figure 3, in which it wili be noted that the edges 3i of the sides of the stirrup engage the casing and form a stop.

The solenoid ll is mounted in the casing 23 by a forked element L12 at the upper end engaging a stud Il@ on the casing and by a bracket lli having a plug i5 which enters the lower end of the spool. The bracket lli/i carries a buifer 3S for the arm when returning to normal position.

At the upper end of the spool a contact lll is provided with which a contact button i8 is adapted to engage the button being connected to the lamp lead (i9.

With the improved form of arm and locking means according to the invention various advantages are obtained as follows:

The lock spring 2l' is necessarily weak and sensitive and after repeated use may become ineiective to raise the locking plate le; consequently, the arm will not be held in the closed postion inside the case. By means oi' the improved c-onetruction when the arm is raised by hand, see Figure 4, the channel portion E3 or the arm will press down upon the spring, and if necessary bend it so that it again becomes tensioned and effective.

Again in known constructions where the hand operatn of the arm is effected by separate release of the lock when forced the arm is liable to become bent as it is necessarily made of light material and is constructionally Weak.

This objection is avoided in the present case as the only resistance to be overcome when raising the arm by hand, the lock being on, is that of the arm spring 2li, the strength of which is insuiicient to cause distortion of the arm.

In known forms distortion of the arm is also caused when the arm is raised by the electromagnet as the arm comes to rest in the upper position with a jerk. This jerk is accommodated in the present construction by the jointing of the arm parts which allows the lower part, if necessary, to move relatively to the upper part after the stirrup has engaged the wall of the casing. This action is illustrated in Figure 5 where the lower arm has risen above its normal indicating position.

Further, the present construction permits the arm to be raised by hand to a higher position than the indicating position so that the insertion or withdrawal of the lamp is facilitated. The raising of the arm from its inoperative position may be accomplished by grasping the edge of the arm through the open side of the case 23, as shown in Fig. l.

It will also be appreciated that when the arm is raised by hand no forcing of the parts, such as the pivot, the short arm of the leverage and the locking means, can occur.

According to a modification, see Figure 6, the cross pin 32 upon which the locking plate l5 acts may be carried by the upper arm portion 33 and the division of the arm may occur at a point outwardly ofthe normal pivotal axis 34. With such an arrangement, the parts of the arm may be connected together by a hinge 35, a snap fastening S6 being provided to hold the parts in their normal aligned position.

According to a further feature of the invention the construction and operation of the arm may be such that in bringing the arm to the signalling position a force (other than gravity) is set up tending to return the arm to normal position whereby the difliculty experienced in the arm sticking at the indicating position is avoided.

This feature of the invention may be applied to the improved two part arm by forming the stirrup so that it abuts against the casing before the lower part of the arm has reached the horizontal whereby the continued movement of the lower part of the arm tensions the spring 2li.

Figure 7 illustrates this modification of the invention and shows the parts in indicating position. The stirrup i8 is formed with extended stop forming edges 3l which engage the casing 23 when the lower portion Hl has reached the dotted position. The lower part lil continues to rise until it reaches the horizontal, thus stressing the spring 2li and setting up a force which when the electro-magnet or solenoid is de-energized will positively initiate the return of the arm overcoming any holding tendency caused by wind resistance.

In applying this feature of the invention to a modified arrangement suitable more particularly where a one piece arm is present a spring may be mounted in a position to be directly compressed by the core of the solenoid.

Thus, referring to Figure 8, a spring 38 is mounted within the spool 39 and is adapted to be compressed between the core at and the `plug li of the mounting.

It will be appreciated that the stressing of the returning spring should not take place until the arm has nearly reached its signalling position when the power of the solenoid is strongest. Further, the provision of` an energy storer to initiate the return movement may be applied to direction indicato-rs in which means other than a solenoid or electro-magnet is provided for raising the arm.

Moreover, the improved locking device and two part arm may be applied to vehicle direction indicators other than electrically operated, for example, the actuation oi .the arm may be by suction or suction electric means, such as described tor example in my application Serial No. 1148i, filed March 22, 1935.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l.. A vehicle direction indicator comprising an arm., a housing therefor, means pivotally mounting the arm in the housing for swinging movement into and out of the housing, said arm having a stirrup pivotally mounted on the pivot aXis oi the arm mounting, a tension spring the ends of which are connected to the stirrup and arm, a relatively xed abutment carried by the housing and adapted to be engaged by said stirrup for determiningr the signalling position of the arm, said stirrup having a surface adapted to engage the relatively xed abutment to limit the pivotal movement of the stirrup, when the arm is raised in signalling, whereby the arm continues its movement to stress the spring, setting up a force tending to return the arm.

` 2. In a vehicle direction indicator, a homing, a signalling arm, means pivotally mounting the arm in the housing for swinging movement into and out of the same, said arm comprising hingedly connected parts with resilient means normaliy holding said arm parts definitely related to each other, means engaging one of said arm parts formoving the other arm part to an indicating position, said other arm part being manually movable relative to the rst named arm part and against the tension of said resilient means, and means engaging the iirst named arm part for locking the arm in a non-indicating position, said rst named part being pivotally mounted by said first means.

3. A vehicle directionvindicator comprising a pivotally mounted indicating arm movable from an inoperative position to an indicating position, means detachably connected to the arm for moving it to its indicating position, a member movable with the arm. about its p-ivot as a unit, and means yieldably connecting said member to the arm. for movement as a unit while permitting independent movement of the armv when subjected to an abnormal force, said moving means having a part engageable by the member when the unit is in its inoperative position for yieldably holding the arm against movement.

a. A vehicle direction indicator comprising an indicating arm, means pivotally mounting the arm for movement from an inoperative position to an indicating position, means directly enga-geable with the arm for moving the latter to its indicating position, a member resiliently connected to the arm. for movement therewith as a uni-t and yielding on the arm -to permit independent movement o1" the latter, and a part movable by said moving means and engageable by said member to restrain movement of the latter while permitting movement oi the arm from its inoperative position.

5. A vehicle direction indicator comprising an indicating arm, means pivotally mounting the arm for movement from an inoperative position to an indicating position, means operatively connected tothe arm for movin-g it to its indicating position, the connection between the moving means and the arm permitting independent movement oi the latter toward its indicating position, and a member resiliently connected to the for movement therewith as a unit, said moving means having a part engageable by the member when the unit is in its inoperative position to restrain movement of the member from such position while the resilient member yieldably permits such independent movement of the arm.

6. A vehicle direction indicator. comprising an arm composed of inner and outer end portions, means pivotally mounting the arm portions for movement from a normal position to a raised signalling position, actuating means for raising the arm from its normal position to a signalling position, said actuating means including locking means` engageable with the inner end portion for hoiding the arm against vibration when in the normal position, said locking means being f initially released when the actuating means is operated to raise the arm, and yieldable means connecting the arm portions for yieldably holding them in a dente relationship while permitting the outer end portion to be manually moved f toward its indicating position while the locking means remains operative.

7. A vehicle directionindicator comprising an arm, means pivotally mounting the arm for movement from a normal position to a signalling position, electro-magnetic means for raising the arm from its normal position to a signalling position, anti-vibrating means for holding the arm in the normal position and operable initially by said electro-magnetic means to release the arm by and during movement oi said electro-magnetic means in its arm. operating movement, and an inner end portion engage-.able by said anti-vibrating means, both arm portions being independently and pivotally mounted on the( first means, and means yieldably holding 'the two arm portions for movement in unison and acting to permit the outer portion to be manually moved while the inner portion remains engaged by said anti-vibrating means.

8. A direction indicator comprising an indicating arm composed of inner and outer portions, means pivotally mounting the arm portions for swinging from an inoperative position to an cperative position, and an actuator slidably mounted and normally engaging the inner arm. portion to hold it aaginst swinging with the outer arm portion, said outer arm portion having a Xed part extending into the path of the actuator to be engaged thereby for moving the arm to its operative position, said arm embodying resiliently carried means yieldably holding the inner and outer arm portions for movement as a unit while permitting the outer arm. portion being swung manually toward its operative position when said actuator is engaged with said inner arm portion.

WLLIAMl EDWARD OSHEI.

CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION. Patent No.' 2,179,5LLL. November 7, 1959.

WILLIAM EDWARD OSHEI.

It is herebyr certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 52, claim 2, after the word "named" insert arm; and second column, line L8, claim Y, after "movement, insert said arm including an outer portion,; line 62, Claim 8, for "aaginst" read against; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of December, A. D. 1959.

, Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

